In a research project funded by the Museum of Youth Culture and the IHR, I studied the role of fast food in the emergent youth culture of late 20th-century Britain. This was a time of huge societal upheaval that saw monumental changes in the way that we eat. American fast food chains started to take root in Britain in the 1970s as Indian and Chinese restaurants also began to take off. The consumption of cheap fast food often featured - and continues to feature - in a stereotype about teenage anti-social behaviour. Based on oral histories and research in image archives, my findings move beyond such generalisations. Chips - bought from the Chinese ‘chippy’ after a Friday night pub trip, or consumed in school-uniform from polystyrene plates - take centre stage in memories of youthful rebellion, for example, but also provided the backdrop to warming tales of friendship and romance. Fast food restaurants provided employment to young people, and the new flavours and novel ways of eating that emerged between 1970 and 2000 appealed to a sense of teenage adventure and creativity.

My article on this topic was selected to feature as a full wall display in the Museum of Youth Culture’s pop-up museums in 2020. You can read the full article below!